MLB Rumors

Diamondbacks closer Heath Bell continued to struggle Wednesday with the Marlins, the team that traded him in the offseason following a disastrous one-year stint.

Bell allowed a leadoff homer to Justin Ruggiano to open the ninth, and put the tying run on base when he walked Giancarlo Stanton with no out.

He was able to work out of the jam with three straight outs, however, recording his 13th save in 15 tries, in a 3-1 win. Bell allowed a game-winning home run in the teams' first game Monday. He now has a 4.40 ERA on the season, and has allowed one home run in each of the last fur outings. 

Twins outfielder Josh Willingham will play through a bothersome left knee but will remain at designated hitter until it feels a little better, MLB.com reports Wednesday. 

Willingham was a little sore after playing in Tuesday's game. He had a cortisone shot Saturday and missed Saturday and Sunday's games. 

"It's not perfect right now -- I can tell you that," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We'll see how this DH thing goes, but it wasn't a great night last night as far as him running around on his leg. So I'm a little concerned."

Diamondbacks outfielder Cody Ross has been dealing with blurred vision for much of the season due to issues with his contact lenses, but he clearly had no issues seeing Wednesday against the Marlins. Thanks to a visit to a three-hour trip to an eye doctor prior to the game, Ross was able to see clearly in a pinch-hitting appearance in the eighth inning.

Ross took Marlins reliever Mike Dunn deep for a three-run home run that provided all of the team's offense, in a 3-1 win. It was just Ross' third home run of the season, and first since May 27, nearly a month.

"Honestly I was going up there with blurry vision half the time at the plate," Ross said. "It's hard enough to hit in this league when you've got good vision, as opposed to going up with blurry vision. But it's just one of those things where you don't want to make excuses, but it's a true story. It was tough."

With starter Trevor Cahill leaving Wednesday's game against the Marlins due to a hip injury, the Diamondbacks needed a big lift from their bullpen. It came in the form of Josh Collmenter, who tossed six one-hit innings in a 3-1 win.

Collmenter, who had not pitched since June 12, needed just 78 pitches to work his six scoreless innings, limiting the Marlins to one hit and one walk. He struck out seven batters as well.

"It was a great performance," manager Kirk Gibson told ArizonaSports.com after the game. "He was really rolling there. He had the magic wand out there and got rolling."

Despite Collmenter's big game out of the bullpen, he was saddled with a no-decision, as the Diamondbacks did not score until after he left the game. Collmenter now has a 2.43 ERA on the season, while working mostly in long relief. 

Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez pitched well enough to win yet again Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, but a lack of run support proved costly yet again, in a 3-1 loss.

Fernandez cruised through the first seven innings of the game, holding the Diamondbacks scoreless before running into trouble in the eighth. He walked two batters and was lifted with one out in the eighth inning, for reliever Mike Dunn, who allowed a three-run homer to the first batter he faced.

Fernandez was charged with two runs in 7 1/3 innings, while pitching into the eighth inning for just the third time in his professional career. Fernandez allowed two runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out four batters in the 3-1 loss. He also threw 71 of 103 pitches for strikes in the game, his second start in a row with at least 100 pitches thrown.

Fernandez now has a 3.05 ERA, and the Marlins seem to be letting him go deeper into games; he has thrown at least 87 pitches in each of his last five starts, after doing so just once in his first nine. He carries a 4-4 record into his next outing, scheduled for Tuesday against the Vikings. 

Mariners reliever Josh Kinney continues to pitch during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma. Kinney has pitched well over four appearances, MLB.com reports. 

That said, manager Eric Wedge said Kinney still needs more time. Wedge said this is "kind of like spring training for him." 

Mariners reliever Stephen Pryor continues to make slow progress in his recovery from a torn lat muscle, MLB.com reports Wednesday. 

Manager Eric Wedge said that it is unlikely Pryor returns during the first half of the season. He's hoping to begin throwing in Arizona shortly, however. 

Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak was not in the lineup Wednesday in Anaheim because manager Eric Wedge said he can only play two of three games in a series, MLB.com reports. 

The Mariners will rotate Smoak, Kendrys Morales and Michael Morse at first base and designated hitter going forward until Morse is healthy enough to play the outfield. Morse was the first baseman Wednesday. 

Smoak returned to action from the disabled list Tuesday and went 1 for 4 with a home run. 

Twins outfielder Wilkin Ramirez will begin a rehab assignment with Class A Fort Myers Thursday, MLB.com reports Wednesday. Ramirez passed his concussion test. 

Ramirez, who suffered the concussion May 25, has been taking batting practice with the team and has done running drills to this point. 

White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez has been an everyday player all season as he's played in 69 of 69 games for Chicago, MLB.com reports Wednesday. Ramirez hasn't missed a game all year, though manager Robin Ventura would like to get him a rest before the All-Star break. 

"I think it'll help," Ventura said. "You would like to, but you can't guarantee that. You'd like to get him a day somewhere in here that you can -- maybe even get in around one of those off-days, so you can make it an extra day. It might not happen, but I think right now if we were able to do it, Gordon [Beckham] would go over to shortstop."

The 31-year-old Ramirez is batting .268 this season with 14 RBI and 14 stolen bases. He's been pretty warm of late with 10 hits in his last 30 at-bats.